Covid

This must be extremely difficult for you. I have a grown-up son who does not want to be vaccinated however much I argue the case with him :-(.  I had to tell him that I could not see him other than outdoors at a distance whilst I'm undergoing treatment.  It breaks my heart.

I'm afraid I don't have any solution for you but would be very interested in hearing from others who might have some advice.

Take care. x

Thanks so much for the response Danish Pastry.  I am feeling a little bit frustrated with the whole situation. The oncologist didn’t give me much advice as far as Covid is concerned, other than checking I’ve been vaccinated. It is a worry for me especially with the newer variations.  I’ll bring it up again at my next appointment. I’ve just completed 4 rounds of high dose EC, due to start 12 weekly treatments now. I am wondering how my immune system will cope if I’m exposed to covid and how effective the vaccine will be, given my situation at home.  I would hate to be separated from my girls during this time. :( 

If anyone has some advice or are in a similar position, please let me know.

many thanks! 
C x 

I think all of us on chemo are in a similar situation sadly! I am a single parent and don’t have a partner but I have had to say to friends and my niece who are unvaccinated, and often not still taking precautions like mask wearing in supermarkets, going into party bars, etc, that I won’t have them in the house. I also ask people to LFT test at least 3 times in the week before staying overnight at my house and to avoid high risk situations during that week too. I make the few people I let in wash their hands, use a separate toilet to me and then I antibac everything when they go, wash the towels etc. If they feel remotely ill, no matter how disappointed I am not to see them, they can’t come. It’s not just covid it’s anything they could be carrying. We were also doing much of this (minus masks and LFTs) 20 years ago when my sister had cancer to the extent I got married during her chemo and I called the entire guest list the week before and told them if they were remotely ill they couldn’t attend. Not much has changed in the advice since then really. You are vulnerable.

As far as the children go, all you can do really is get them washing their hands the second they’re in the house as a routine, don’t have your friends kids in the house if you can avoid it tbh, minimise you exposure to infection as best you can. I work in a primary and have been signed off as the infection risk it too high. You are not being paranoid no matter what others may think or say. 

Everything I’m doing was advised by my oncologist and Macmillan when I rang them about this kind of thing myself. I wear masks indoors too and only go to well ventilated areas, don’t go into superstores, public transit, etc. I go out, eat out, shop in smaller shops, etc. still but I’m incredibly careful. I hope that helps x

I find it so strange that people won't get vaccinated,  and think that many don't know anyone who has had covid so believe the social media misinformation 

 I have long covid and I'm typing this with ringing and ticking in my head  which I've had since last December. It's stopped me talking letrozole every day as the low oestrogen makes it so loud I feel dizzy and I get depressed. My first  Pfizer vaccine caused it to flare up as well,  and a painful rapid flow test last week in Majorca has  also made it worse ax hes irritated the nerves at thre back of my nose. I have GI issues,  joint pain and reflux too, and worry that my cancer is in my bones from the pain.  When I had covid I was ambulance to hospital on day 9 with blood oxygen in the low 90's.

I work in a school where the two young women working in sick bay refused the vaccine... until their aunt who worked in thr canteen and also unvaccinated tested positive and was really unwell.  Off they went to get their first one that week!

Have you discussed why he won't have it? Does he understand how ill he could be,  or the risk he's causing you? It's out there.  My younger daughters friends are 18 and 6 of them went to Bristol climbing lay week for 4 days.  Three of them now have covid including a girl who was double vaxxed a few months ago die to a weak immune system.  She's unwell,  but goodness knows what she should have been like if she'd not been vaccinated!!

It s a shame your partner won't get vaccinated, especially with you going through chemo. I went through chemo prior to the vaccines being available and we didn't see anyone during the whole time, other than outside and about 5 metres away and even then it was not for long - a chance meeting with the neighbours mostly. We weren't taking any chances. The riskiest thing we did was my husband getting the shopping via click and collect.

We also don't have kids so were able to isolate well during chemo and are lucky to live in an unpopulated area so going for walks etc, we hardly ever saw anyone and could keep a very safe distance if we did.

Could your partner and kids take lateral flow tests a few times a week? My understanding of your immune system is that the vaccines will have given you some protection but your immune system is so weak that you are likely to get seriously ill if you got covid.

I feel for you having this added worry on top of going through chemo. I felt vulnerable even with all the precautions we took.

I’m so sorry you’ve got this to cope with on top of everything else xx

Thanks Anna12345, it does help. Have been feeling a little paranoid the longer I am on Chemo, it’s starting to taking a toll on my body. It’s a comfort to know I’m not the only one in this situation. I’m much more cautious when I go out. I don’t leave the house without a mask & sanitizer. I totally avoid crowded places.  I’ve asked my partner to sleep in a separate room since he’s got his reservations about the vaccine. He works fulltime & he’s in contact with a lot of people, never wears a mask. It’s been frustrating to say the least.  Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.  I’ll follow your advice on visitors & the little ones.  Much appreciated x 

Hi Beatthebreast.

My partner was against getting vaccinated even before I was diagnosed. He has a deep distrust in the government & pharmaceutical companies. With   The vaccine not being properly tested & the pharmaceutical companies being indemnified. He refuses to take it & I don’t want to force him.  I’ve asked him to start doing lateral flow tests & sleep in a separate bedroom for now, same for the girls. It’s a stressful situation for me.  I am feeling pretty vulnerable. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond, it’s a relief to talk about it.X 

Hi Londonmumof2

It’s a hard situation with him.  I understand why he doesn’t want to take it. I will never force him, it’s his decision at the end of the day. He knows the risk to me. He still doesn’t want to take it.  All I can do now if protect myself as much as I possibly can given the situation. Hope you feel better soon! X 

I’m pleased it helped x if you don’t mind me being nosy, why won’t your partner wear masks or get vaccinated? Especially given your situation, I just wondered what his fears are, they must be incredibly big to have a high risk role and still not take precautions. But you carry on doing everything you’re doing, your life is the most import thing here, you do what you need to do. I’ve had to cancel plans this weekend because my friends daughter was poorly and she didn’t know if it was period pains or an upset tummy. As a nurse in haematology (who administers chemo for blood cancer amongst other things) she said it wasn’t worth the risk, it’s that kind of confirmation that drives me on to be so particular about infections. I don’t suppose you have a health professional friend that could talk to your partner? Xx